The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-10-05
EX-GOV. Luke p. BIac X burn.

Editor Mirror:
There died at Frankfort, KY, on Sept. II, Ex-
Gov. Luke =. Blackburn who was governor of
Kentucky from 1879 to 1888. after lingering ill
ness of several months He had heart troubles
that gradually Slapped his vitality, and although
he exhibited wonderful tenacity of life and
lived several days longer than his attending phys
icians predicted, yet his work done and his
period of usefulness had ended, by reason of old
age and a lifetime of noble, arduous labor. For
who contemplate the many works of this noble
man and assert that amid all the toll. sacrifices
and strife OF political anmosty that his life
not successful? As medical man. he the
first in the field when the great epidemcs of chol-
and yellow fever swept the South, and thus
checked the progress of those terrible scourges.
when the danger he established q
system of marine hospitals from New Orleans to
ST. Louis. where to-day the poor. the sick and the
manned of every nation be found receiving.
gratis, medical aid and succor On the fever
breaking out iii the Bermuda Islands. he fastened
thther at the request of the governor general,
and aided the afflicted citizens, and his services
were officially recognized by the British govern
ment. In 1873 he announced himself as candi-
date for governor. and the meantime the yell
low fever had broken out in Kentucky. He again
rendered his services. usual without compensa-
ton, and in gratitude for his abors. the people
gave him their hearty support and in 1879 he was
duly inaugurated governor. One of the first
things he did after entering upon his executive
duties and for which he will always be gratefully,
aye reverentially, remembered was to revolution
ize the conduct of the Kentucky penitentary.
which was at that time in horrible condition
over crowded. reeking with foul prison smells and
disease, both ply steal and moral. with r. viii
Iainy of life in action close on death, and every
poisonous element of death in action close on life.
He threatened that if the Legislature did not do
something TO improve the condition of things in
the prison he would exercise the pardOn:ng power
by wholesale discharge of the prisoners. He
began by pardoning all the boys and girls and
nearly all the women, and compelled the warden
TO supply wholesome food and proper medical at
tendance to the prisoners, ard Mrs. Blackburn
introduced a system for the improvement of the
morals, and in many ways aided the prisoners in
their self-redemptOn. The messages OF the
governor to the legislature were vigorous that
they aroused the whole state. and the result
"a branch prison at Eddyville. There were govern
ors in Kentucky before Luke p. Blackburn, but
they were only governors in name, who did not
unfortunately, things in their right light. A
strong mpulsive vigorous old man who, in dis
charging the duties OF governor, did not think it
quite right to allow the penal institution of
an enlightened state to be converted into char
nal-house vile. reekii hot-bed of vice and
misery. school of inquity and squalor, and a
college of murder and robbery. 1t is easy TO give
Il logical motive for the taking of human life by Il
common murderer, but what low dspicable ma
turc must man have before descending by a
gradual course of depravity to the awful con-
seriousness of conducting such resthouse? How
hopeful is the future outlook for only common
offender. +. NJ.
Oct. b 1867.
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